
foiyrightF /fJ Z 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 




J. C. CASON 



FRAGMENTS 
OF SONG 



BY 

REV. J. C. CASON 



QS^ 



PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR 

PUBLISHING HOUSE M. E. CHURCF^. SOUTH 

NASHVILLE. TENN. 






Copyright, 1912 

BY 

J. C. Cason 



(OCI.A330592 



I 



TO MY WIFE 

WHOSE DEVOTION ALONE HAS 
MADE POSSIBLE THE GATHERING 
OF THESE "FRAGMENTS," AND 

TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF MOTHER 

EVER A LOVER OF WORTHY SONG, 
TO WHOM THE AUTHOR IS MOST 
INDEBTED FOR ANY GOOD TO BE 
FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES 



CONTENTS. 

Page 

Life's New Morn ^ 

Fairies ^^ 

Spare the Child 12 

The Old Homestead 1^ 

Love for Life ^^ 

As Child 1^ 

Manhood's Prime of Years 19 

The Old Clock 20 

Toil and Meed 24 

Brave It Out 26 

Onward 27 

Rustic Heroes 28 

30 

32 



The Gleaner ^^ 



Crisis 

Laborer, Hail ^^ 

Steady, True, and Onward 36 

Consummation ^'^ 

My Task ^^ 

Fair Poesy '*^ 

Song «2 

44 

Memory 



Love Immortal ^^ 

Minnie ^^ 

Blow! Breezes, Blow! ^^ 



6 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Page 

Why I Am Glad 51 

A Word in Season to the Weary 52 

Forgive 54 

The Workers' Prayer 56 

Gone — but Mine 57 

The Final Lot of Soul 59 

A Christmas Burial 61 

The Sweetest Flower That Blows 63 

Sabbath Musings 65 

New Year's Prayer 67 

In Memory of Rev. B. F. Blackmon 69 

Unto the Heights 71 

Kindness 72 

Alone with Thee 73 

What Time I Am Afraid 74 

Life Triumphant 75 

On Galilee 77 

God's Messenger 78 

Songs in the Night 80 

Sabbath Eve 81 

O Help Us Pray 82 

A Kingly Race 83 

Trust 84 

Safe in the Fold 85 

The Shadowed Way 86 

The Killdee 87 

Gloom and Gleam 90 

Little Gold Thorn Leaves 92 



CONTENTS. / 

Page 

To an Insect in Winter 94 

The Pine Shrub »5 

Voices of Spring 97 

Snowbirds 98 

Wayside Voices 99 

Wind and Snow 101 

In Early Spring 102 

Blow! Blow! O Wind 104 

Christ 106 

Disenthralled 107 

The Departed 108 

The Singer and His Song 109 

The Unpoetic Age 110 

My Mocker in Winter Ill 

To a Violet 112 

A Day 113 

Poem of Life 114 

Man's Dress 115 

Queen Soul 116 

With Truth Secure 117 

Warning 118 

To-Day 119 

Life 120 

Wordsworth : 121 

Burns 122 

Two Little Boys at Christmas 123 

The Morning Fire 125 

At Aunt 'Riah's House 126 



FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 



LIFE'S NEW MORN. 

go long, so long ago it seems — 
The golden age of Life's new morn — 
I view its glories as dim dreams 
But half remembered, feebly born ; 

But fair as all sweet dreams are fair, 

And mild with all the moonbeanrs calm, 

Sacred as ever mothers prayer, 
Mysterious, infinite — a psalm. 

But might I frame the holy lay 

That came with Life across the Vast, 

Forth issuing down celestial way, 

And heard in childhood where'er cast ? 

Should I essay the hymn to raise ? 

But ah ! faint is the mellow air, 
Diffused, as light in autumn haze 

That forms no shadow anywhere. 

But lies, a deep, gold sea, wherein 
All being dwells, immersed in peace. 

'Tis well ; the minor note drowns din 
Of blatant wrong that yet shall cease. 

Bare head ; unsandal feet ; draw near : 
Profane nor realm nor voice divine : 

Behold ! I see ; I something hear ; 

Pray the clear eye, quick ear be mine. 



FAIRIES. 

TT^EOM that mystic land of Somewhere 
>-» Throng the fairies to the earth; 
Wed a little while with Something, 
Lending to all things their worth. 

In their new realm all is beauty, 
And of all they, laughing, boast ; 

iS'aught behold, but it is fairest. 
Though they love each other most. 

In the flush of life's fresh morning, 

Dwells a glamour everywhere, 
And the fairy quaffs a nectar 

That the angels with it share. 

Lo ! the fairies grow to children. 
Fairies far from Somewhere fled ; 

And though long they wed with Something, 
By that First Light, still are led. 

Happy fairy, with your bright toys. 

Busy toiler, daring all ; 
Build your new world, you, our darling. 

Though the high wall, leaning, fall. 



FAIRIES. 11 

Dream your dear dream all the day long, 
So the deed will beauteous grow ; 

Weave the vision you brought with you 
Through the great earth waiting so. 

Cheered, a drooping spirit hails you, 

Heir of kingdoms far and fair ; 
Sharing gleam that never fails you — 

Coming with us f]'om Somewhere. 



SPARE THE CHILD. 

® SPARE the lad, the growing, gazing, dream- 
ing lad, 
If e'er in any task he halt, entranced with life ; 
Far better vision fair than treasure driving mad. 
And God, with bread for each, pours draught of 
beauty rife. 

Crush not the spirit tender caged in earthly 
mold — 
The spirit oft is willing, while the flesh is frail ; 
But lightly worn its clay may commerce higher 
hold 
Than sordid, grov'ling herd that batt'ning yet 
shall fail. 

From realm remote and immemorial age of eld 

A garnered loveliness makes glad the heir of all ; 
And childhood, by the unmeasured sea that spirit 
held. 
Adores its might and lists the murmuring wa- 
ters fall. 

From otherwhere effulgence of a pristine light 
Irradiates the wondering child's rich dwelling 
here; 
And only as the stars at dawn withdraw from 
sight 
That glamour pales, and it shall yet again ap- 
pear. 



SPARE THE CHILD. 13 

All ! what of earth when eye and ear and feeling, all 
The gateways of supernal things at morn are 
barred ? 
The desert yields her opulence at spirit's call 
In man, and power celestial must his progress 
guard. 

Beware, beware! the ruthless word, the wicked 
deed 
That falls a blight and profanation on the soul ; 
Regard the purest worshiper, unspoiled by creed, 
Eespect those dear first beams that light the des- 
tined goal. 

Drive not the lad, with curse of lessened primal 
force, 
To slave, embruted as the ox, and so expire ; 
0, who shall point our feet the happier, human 
course ? 
Arise, thou little child, and lead blind mortals 
higher. 



& 



THE OLD HOMESTEAD. 

^LD home, old home, with what fierce, sacred 
pain 

I dwell thy mold'ring walls within again ! 
When late, mad flames devoured a dear abode, 
I saw all vanish, and but few tears flowed ; 
^Twere easier viewing recent treasure go 
Than gazing on thy relics cherished so. 

How sadly sweet thy record is to me, 

Who leaped and laughed beneath this mantel-tree : 

Of him, the builder, laboring full long 

With less'ning life, once jubilant and strong; 

Of her, in all, his mate most meet — our light 

And charm — till soon drew on the certain night; 

x4.nd others, happy issue of pure life, 

Eich heirs of all parental blessing rife. 

A season brief, I shelter 'neath thy dome. 

But thou art, so changed, dear childhood home ! 

Where once was joy and plenty, far renowned, 

But still and stately vacancy is found. 

Within long barren chambers, none breathe free. 

Whose loved have left them for eternity : 

A stranger here, should feel the air oppress. 

And in the silence and the dark, distress. 



THE OLD HOMESTEAD. 15 

Long since, I joyed this roof revered to near, 
When love came forth and welcomed with a tear. 
'Twas often, "Going home," I fondly said. 
And, "When may I again?" the full heart plead; 
While fixed within a blissful center fair. 
And circled by dear calls of love and care. 

Now, driven, I pass a doorway all forlorn, 
A seaman dashed to shore whence he was born, 
Bereft of craft and store, to find the port 
Decayed and tenantless ; none the report 
Of loss to mourn, or word of welcome speak 
To storm-worn mariner, amazed and weak. 

Around reigns desolation. Once trim bowers 
Exhaled rare sweetness all the summer hours ; 
And orchard, lawn, and woodlawn, ranged afar, 
Were youth's wide paradise that naught could mar. 
How wails the wintry blast without the door 
And mourns a glory gone that comes no more ! 
Still deep'ning in the neighboring elm, 
The swelling dirge my reeling powers overwhelm ; 
List how the lone magnolia, swaying, grieves ; 
0, I shall ever hear those rustling leaves ! 



LOVE FOR LIFE. 

THE body weakened, but did seem 
From spirit realm there fell a gleam 
By angel borne, to cheer and bless 
And make the soul all tenderness. 

"How might it be," I, weeping, mused, 
^'This heart afore hath aught refused 
Of sacred store, by mortals craved. 
Though I had need have perils braved ?" 

Bright over life a light had shined, 
And I had wished I were not blind ; 
Dim vision of a nameless charm 
Forefended 'gainst the fear of harm. 

But now, the earth-life ebbing low — 
That fairer radiance, raising so — 
The heart-fount, welling, bold did say, 
"I tell my love to all to-day." 

Bid flow, sweet words, in mellow tone. 
Poured forth as free as light had shone ; 
Quoth I, "My legacy I'll give — 
My love, to all the souls that live." 



LOVE FOR LIFE. 17 

But lo ! death came not ; flesh revived ; 
The wakened spirit yet deprived 
The tomb of tenant little space, 
And flung o'er all unwonted grace. 

On desert way a glory spread, 
Through the wide earth re-lived the dead, 
Melodious voice all being raised. 
In unison, that Love be praised. 

Up rose the soul, in regal frame, 
Nor wist some blessing but to name — 
Designed bequest of dying hour 
Grown to the gold o' life's own dower. 
2 



AS CHILD. 

TT^ OND child, I crave tl^ pure, wide eyes 
i-» To tell aright the world's rich store ; 

Sure each glad prattler owns a lore 
Denied to many counted wise. 

To trace with joy mysterious life, 

To find divineness in it all, 

To know that Love makes great the small, 
To hear a harmony 'neath strife — 

'Twere but thy spirit swaying more, 
In ever loftier, wondrous prime, 
Till this low vale hold heavenly clime. 

More sv/eet than paradise of yore. 

Ah, man, so artful, but inane. 

While human judge is feared the most. 
Life wanes upon a barren coast : 

Babe's soul peers up, and God is plain. 

Henceforth to love and learn of Life, 
As child, I aim ; to earn each day 
Some truth more high ; without dismay, 

Go forth to empire wide and rife. 



MANHOOD'S PRIME OF YEARS. 

AS I attain to manhood's prime of years, 
May I have well forecast the yet to be, 
And calculated strength, devoid of fears, 
Sharing the soul's supremest liberty ! 

Then may I cheer tired toilers by my side. 

And each deed laud more worthy than my own; 

Prize brotherhood as wealth unknown to pride. 
And stand, if stand I must, on duty lone ! 

Then would I not be snared by present gain. 
But shape with purpose for divinest end ; 

Ascending life's fair heights, allow the pain. 
My joy, my meed — God doth my choice com- 
mend. 



THE OLD CLOCK. 

LIST ? Can you not that tapping hear ? 
How fitful and how fast ! 
It might be death-watch drumming near, 
But should not all year last ; 

Yet long Vnq heard this same weird rap, 

As lone I sit and sew, 
Or in the hall — as it may hap — 

When back and forth I go. 

I credit not report of haunt, 

iN'or heed I rumored tricks 
Of spirit-rapping, or mad taunt 

Of demon-driven witch ; 

But this queer noise will oddly start 
Just when no one would think, 

Awake affright in strongest heart 
And make the bravest shrink. 

Ha ! that is but the worn-out clock 

Concealed beneath the stair, 
That without pendulum or lock 

Is jarred in passing there; 



THE OLD CLOCK. 21 

Or else, perchance, a tremor small, 

Eanging through earth or air, 
Wakens its spirit, and at call 

Doth us a message bear. 

Dear, that uncanny click to me 

Speaks volumes of the past, 
And awed and soothed through memory 

No ill can longer last ; 

And would I might to thee convey 

A tithe of what is mine. 
As mingled lights of holy ray 

The old clock makes to shine,. 

One glorious morn, my natal day — 

It was at Christmastide — 
This storied timepiece came to stay 

My father's hearth beside ; 

And from that ample mantel-tree 

Its rhythmic stroke and tick 
Methodic native was to me. 

And company when sick; 

And faithfully — so soon — ah me ! 

Did tell the winged hours 
Of wantful, blissful infancy 

Till youth, with rising powers. 



FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Drew from the face so bland the time — 
Untaught its worth to know — 

Undreamed, the object held a chime 
To ring through life below. 

An idle schoolboy once would hold 
The hands too fast did move ; 

Again that day, might be, was bold 
Their slowness to reprove ; 

But mood and impulse, chastened soon, 

Owned order all supreme. 
That reigns in wheeling sun and moon 

And tempers every beam. 

How often eager eyes have sought 
This plain but truthful face. 

As ill or weal near moments brought 
Or life moved from its place ! 

Yes, brother Eobbie, only two, 
When first the clock was spied, 

But lisped of time, then outward drew 
His bark on ordered tide. 

Then years of joy and pain sped on, 
Each moment told in truth. 

Till sisters — other self — were gone. 
And gone my light of youth ; 



THE OLD CLOCK. 23 

But as the marge by her was neared, 

Who knew and loved the best, 
Who heard its note till dawn appeared. 

That sufFring child might rest — 

Ah ! fittingly it seems to me 

The old clock ceased to go ; 
With heart toil-worn it could not see 

The orphans weeping so. 

Fair hands caressed and eyes so fond, 
Now closed, dwelt on this dial ; 

dear it is for those beyond 
Who know not time nor trial. 

And so I begged my boyhood friend — 
A sacred presence here — 

1 shall revere it to the end. 
And ever keep it near. 



TOIL AND MEED. 

®NE rears an empire firm and just; 
A million, nameless, make his fame. 
One rules, and hosts forbid the shame 
Of ensign trailing in the dust. 

The sceptered and the subject — all 

Have wrought out honor's fadeless crown; 
The lord and lad share like renown 

Who dare for that most dear to fall. 

Weep not that no impartial pen 
Bequeaths the name and deed of all ; 
More fair than any human scrawl 

Is love of man for fellow men. 

Take cheer, be calm, and look afar, 
heart ; beware of haste and fear ; 
The narrow aim renounce, and clear 

Shall gleam thy golden, guiding star. 

Despite the sordid views of men, 
Their ribaldry, and cruel scorn. 
Keep to thy sphere, and eyes unborn 

Shall hail a light that has not been. 



TOIL AND MEED. 25 

Man's justice, oft delayed, will rout 
The tyrant and the chaff disperse, 
Nor shall the nohle count it curse 

That meed comes not with throng and shout. 

Think not what first is writ or read 
Were of true worth a record just; 
Toil that is real, in faith robust, 

Shall be rehearsed where spirits tread. 

Dost thou desire Time's laurels green? 

Deserve them ; they must grow as thou ; 

If now no bay leaves deck thy brow, 
Reach not for immature ones seen. 

But round with zest thy day ; for though 
Full wage is for the finished work. 
Who takes his task and dares not shirk, 

His hours and honors come not slow ; 

But rapt in vision, weaving on 
To reproduce the pattern rare. 
Till thew and thread of soul are there, 

Has evening rest in radiant dawn. 

And recompense, for joy of deeds 

Holds not from man to man the rule ; 
Maker of field and wold and pool 

Decrees thy due and onward leads. 



B 



BRAVE IT OVT. 

RAVE it out ! brave it out ! victory win ! 
Never doubt ! never doubt ! — hold that a sin. 



Thou must stand ! thou must stand ! ever alone ; 
Dare command ! dare command powers thine own. 

Some may slight, some may scoff — never a sigh ! 
Some may snarl, some may brawl — brave it all by ! 

Some may twit — turn thy shift better a bit ; 
Clasp thy fate ! smite the flint ! out of the pit ! 

Thou must know ! thou must know higher goal yet ; 
Spurn the low ! surely go ! — judgment is set. 

Labor on ! frown nor fawn ! never despair ! 
Mend the wrong ! cherish song ! offer a prayer ! 

Bear it all ! sing it through ! brave it out still ! 
Love the good ! live the true ! lift with a will ! 



ONWARD. 

AFORESPENT life— a fretting strife— 
A dimming of Love's dream; 
An added might — the world set right — 
Unending realms agleam. 

Forge onward, then, ye f altering men ! 

Though baffled oft, arise ; 
For toiling soul there lifts the goal. 

And bursts all heaven — a prize. 



RUSTIC HEROES. 

HAIL, my rustic, swarthy comrades ! 
Hai], strong tillers. of the soil! 
You, my fellows of the furrow — 
First of all the sons of toil : 

You who groan 'neath dire oppression — 
Slave as brute that man be fed — 

Lade wealth^s ample board with dainties 
While yourselves seek common bread : 

Sharing full your gross abuses. 

Stung with you by tongue of scorn, 

In a better time I greet you — 
Heroes 'mid the rustling corn : 

Here, my wreath of song, true nobles — 

Worthy of immortal lay — 
You, the stay of all earth's peoples, 

Bringing near yet fairer day. 

Lords of far-spread fertile acres 

Throned among your rural bowers; 

Peasants of the humble houses 
Drudging all the daylight hours — 



RUSTIC HEROES. 29 

Hail, most f avore(J ones of heaven ! 

Brothers be, and blend your soags ; 
Teach the mad street how to triumph 

Where abound the mighty wrongs. 

Victories ©f peaceful labor 

Shall rebuke war's deeds of death 

And instruct the savage nation 
By the word the Master saith. 

Happy he, unspoiled by city, 

Honest, breathing heaven's pure air. 

Hale and free, in shade and sunshine, 
Free of artificial care. 

Euddy lad, in field a-toiling, 

Come, replace the mart's pale blood; 

Sturdy yeomen, mind the sowing 
That must feed the world in flood. 

Onward fare, in high endeavor, 

'Neath your vine and fig tree dream 

Till the old earth is the new earth, 
And the new heaven o'er us beam. 



THE GLEANER. 

FOETH to the human harvest fair 
Gioeth an eager host to share 
The toil and hoard. The Lord doth speak 
"Work shall be given strong and weak ; 
Some ground the mighty may not reap, 
There let the gleaner bind and keep." 

Quotli one : "I only glean, but bold 
I'll gather grain that, when the cold 
Shall lock the springs of growing things 
And hush the lark that heavenward sings, 
I yet may sing ; and singing, live 
Some nobler anthem still to give.'' 

The noontide, and a little grain. 
He binds with cord of anxious pain. 
"So poof, so lone the work begun, 
So welt'ring rolls the midday sun ! 
The hand grown weak, by briers torn, 
The wide, wide field : Why not I mourn ?" 

Up ! gleaner, courage gains the prize, 
Thy toil is marked by kindly eyes, 
High fellowship shall hearten thee. 
Thy guerdon hundredfold shall be; 
Sing for the grain that gleams afar. 
And thou shalt sing with evening star. 



THE GLEANER. 31 

"Lord of the harvest, sheaves but few 
Have I brought in from where they grew, 
But with them each a song is given ; 
And when the Harvest Home of heaven 
Ascends and lab'rer knows no grief, 
May not my songs make one bright sheaf ?" 



CRI8I8. 

SCAECE may I frame my falt'ring prayer, 
For weariness of wasting care 
And all the ills, I halting, bear." 

Calm ! troubled soul ; a time be still. 
So then shall peace her balm distill, 
And wish grow on to sovereign will. 

Thou wilt, King, crown my desire. 
And shape it ever something higher. 
Since thou hast bid the heart aspire. 

Let fairer be the way I see. 
Yet dearer still my own to me, 
And surer all I mean to be. 

A myriad rising memories rush. 
And all the musing powers so flush, 
I sink entranced 'mid holy hush ; 

But silent long, ah ! long, too long — 
I speak, or else the angels wrong 
That flood the soul with lyric song. 

What strains were lost 'mid evil clang, 
May they resound where once they rang ? 
Or far airs on a dull ear hang ? 



CRISIS. 33 

Perchance, ah, joy ! I yet may know 
How mighty song survives her blow, 
And nourished by resolve will grow. 

Again, chaste presences, ye deign — 
All-glorious guests — wake the refrain 
Of olden lays — subduing pain, 

Eeviving hope — by echoes slight. 

Of faint, sweet notes — love catches light — 

I dream and murmur in the night. 

Stay ! sacred, choiring shades, yet stay ! 
And I shall sing the genial day 
That rose upon a rugged way — 

A flinty path, by bare feet trod ; 
Bare, sore, lame feet that might but plod, 
Yet, joying, journeyed, led of God. 
3 



LABORER, HAIL. 

HAIL, thrice happy, toiling brother, 
Blest thy lot and great thy deed ; 
"Laboring this day or another 
Earnest work will win its meed. 

On the land or on the ocean, 
Housed, or be thy lot without. 

Heaven records the high devotion. 
While good angels camp about. 

Be thou scholar or the peasant. 
Famed or nameless otherwhere. 

Serving eons or the present, 
Thine the sought or slighted share ; 

In the street or wooded alley. 
At the forge or loom or plow. 

Tending flock in fragrant valley 
Or the sick with anguished brow ; 

Molding laws for ages, races. 

Holding law for one alone. 
Lifting millions from low places. 

Making home a golden throne ; 



LABORER^ HAIL. 35 

Brain or brawn or seraph's yearning, 

First resource of thy true soul, 
Drudg'ry — end of all thy learning — 

Lays that live from pole to pole. 

Laborer, hail ! My sister, brother ; 

In this heart the tie holds strong. 
And I love and laud thee further 

Than the measure of my song. 



STEADY, TRUE, AND ONWARD. 

STEADY, true, and onward, where no man hath 
stood! 
Thine the richer treasure of the growing good, 
Thine the clearer vision of a loftier state. 
Thine a vaster measure of the dangers great. 

Steady! Gales about the summit sweep with 

might ; 
Spent but clinging, look beyond the deep of night. 
Steady ! for abysms pull to hurl thee down ; 
Sober-thoughted, view that splendor none e'er 

found. 

True ! Thy God in wisdom all thy ways ordain. 
Blessing hundredfold the hunger and the pain. 
True! Spurn other stay or guide appareled 

bright. 
In allegiance is thy life, in right thy might. 

Onward ! Stay not for the gains already thine. 
Onward! Where for thee all realms effulgent 

shine. 
Steady, true, and onward! Pressing toward the 

goal 
Far and fadeless ever for the immortal soul. 



CONSUMMATION. 

^ MOEN of storm, 
1\ A noon at ease, 
An eve to charm, 
A night with peace. 

The bard's chagrin : 
A languid frame, 

No light within, 
Life's splendor tame. 

This yesterday, 
But what its deed 

Or word or lay 

That spirits speed ? 

Yet stay, day ; 

He strove with might 
And dreamed his way 

To clearer sight. 

The vernal world. 
The bubbling stream. 

The wood rain-pearled. 
Day's last gold gleam. 



38 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

One day, much wrong; 

Half life, unknown; 
One day, no song — 

A flower unblown : 

Two days, both rife ; 

Two parts, one whole ; 
Two hearts, one life ; 

Two worlds, one soul ! 



MY TASK. 

,NE life to live 

In faith and zeal; 
My might to give 
For human weal. 



® 



Some thoughts to breathe 
Of light and cheer; 

The sword to sheathe 
And bring heaven near. 



FAIR POESY. 

I 7^ Mil POESY, who art my love, my life, 
Full oft this weak and toiling heart 'mid 
strife 
Thy charm hath felt and owned a richer store 
That but a gleam of thine did light the door 
From fruitless wand'ring and from vassalage 
To aim supine — life's common sacrilege. 
breathe, beam upon this languid frame, 
Thou mighty Muse of every bard the same. 
Till other share and spread that lambent ray 
Who darkling else should grope nor live his day. 
Still thou dost not with lavish hand dispense 
Thy wealth save as deserved recompense 
To prostrate, ardent devotee alone; 
That soul with song thou hast imbued and shone 
Alway unsullied and replendent more. 
As more, once purblind eyes see and adore. 
Whoever sought thee but in love of thee, 
A wretch and worthless roves eternally; 
Thy radiance in purity serene 
Doth strike full dumb that demon, foul and mean. 
"Take now my love," an eager spirit pleads ; 
The golden hours bestowed on sordid deeds 
Should lustily have ministered to song — 
Melodious, pure, triumphant over wrong — 



FAIR POESY. 41 

Since thou wast ever jealous of thy priest, 

Who may not serve at other altars least 

And at thine well ; thy courts profaned, forth goes 

The miscreant — in his heart a thousand woes. 



SONG. 

®SONG, voice of the true, the fair, the strong, 
Thou wast of eld, and joy of every throng ; 
Orbs in their march, the mighty prelude sound, 
An earth^s hour-life thrills to the rhythmic round. 

symphony of sun and system far ! 
rapt'rous cadence of the gleaming star ! 
What wondrous, blended notes of tint and tone 
From heaven's profound to storied stone ! 

Vain were the search to mark a richer sum 
Of harmony in sphere or insect's hum ; 
In high rapport the universal host 
Chant answ'ring strain to region uttermost. 

As throbs rapt seraph's lyre or man doth praise. 
Resounds pure melody in chief est lays ; 
Sole spirit only airs supernal know, 
Man hymns at will, all worlds, above, below. 

Ah ! why mourn thou or deem thy lot forlorn- — 
All beings' soul — who, though bedimmed, hast 

borne 
Through strain the image of divinity 
And boundless, fathomless affinity? 



SONG. 43 

Thy God thy song, and thou shalt godlike sing, 
Nor quest of theme be vain in anything; 
And ever man shall challenge thy pure lay — 
Heir of renown, in realm of endless day. 

How sweet accord of deeds unknown to fame ; 
What winsome measures righteous wealth can 

frame ; 
What paeans sacrifice peals to the sky, 
What grateful anthems rise when good men die ! 

Sing all, in all, and ye shall sing alway ; 
Tones low and wild ; now dirge, now roundelay ; 
Sing, friend of all, and friend will hearten thee ; 
Sing on, board ; song lives eternally. 



MEMORY. 

©MEMORY, thou dauntless ward, 
Thou true custodian of all thought, 
All choice, all conscience, and that wrought 
In light ; bound sure with lasting cord, 

Sheaves of life's field attest thy care, 
Whence all is gleaned, the good with ill. 
Our tears for tares ; the grain doth fill 

The measure of our chosen share. 

Illumine and inspire the wan. 

The weak, dim-visioned soul forlorn. 
Striving 'gainst impotence ; upborne 

By might of thine, I shall go on. 

And beating down the hollow din 
Of clanging trifles, catch and peal 
Some strains that faint and fainter steal 

Upon the stifled ear within; 

Afraid, what time life's treasure real 
I most esteem lest sore dismayed 
That music all remote be stayed, 

And I be mute for others' weal. 

Blest hour that memory holds dear 

Through stress and throng of coming time 
While mind reigns still in regal prime. 

Ah, far-fled life, how fair, how dear ! 



LOVE IMMORTAL. 

AFFECTION cannot die like flesh; 
Though hard the stroke, the heart 
lives still. 
If crushed and held in sorrow's mesh, 
There is no power real love can kill. 

Love pines; but like aspiring vines 
That stretch frail tendrils for embrace, 

When rent, on Nature's arm reclines. 
And nourished there, regains her grace. 

What though love's object vanish and 

Lame reason cannot with it go ? 
Yet life ascends at law's command, 

And love is blessed by every blow. 

Denied the tenure of a good 

Terrene, bereft of treasure now, 
Love brings two worlds to brotherhood. 

And what earth lacks heaven will allow. 



MINNIE. 

EVEEY lad must love a lassie. 
There was one a lad loved well; 
Minnie — aye, she loved the laddie, 
And a story I will tell — 

Tell to simple hearts that cherish 
Unfeigned native deeds of youth, 

Who have felt love's thrill in childhood 
As the sage is stirred by truth. 

Minnie's eyes a twinkling brown were, 
Ringlets long and rippling free ; 

Voice was hers like tinkling brooklet ; 
Ah ! a queen of ten was she. 

Home from school with playmate Eva 

Minnie and her sister came, 
Lily, fair and tall and lissom, 

Wearing well her flower name. 

Soon within the fragrant orchard. 

Blossom-wreathed, they bound and shout. 

Swinging, clam'ring on the branches ; 
ISTow they mount, and near without, 

Lo ! is spied lone William looking, 
Leaning on his hoe enthralled. 

"William, William," rings in chorus. 
But he came not when they called. 



MINNIE. 47 

Answered, "Can^t ;" and turned him from them, 

Felling stalks with lusty blows ; 
Thought of faded shirt and trousers. 

Through a shoe he saw two toes. 

Said the sirens : "We will woo him." 

So they chanted 'mid the boughs 
Like the happy birds about them. 

With the blossoms on their brows ; 

Warbled with their might, the witches, 

Till the youthful farmer stole, 
First fond glances, then stood smiling. 

Yielding up a captive soul. 

Down sprang all the wily maidens. 

Blithely, blandly scampered all 
To the old rail fence and, passing. 

Halted 'neath twin poplars tall. 

"Hither, hither !" trilled out Minnie ; 

"Would you know our Indian game?" 
"Yes," said William, and delighted. 

Leaping on his hoe, he came. 

Laughed out Eva, ever merry : 

"She will kiss you if you play." 
Clapped her hands and shouted Lily, 

Minnie chasing her away. 



48 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Fleetly went the blissful moments, 
As the day at school was told; 

"Why were you not there?" asked Minnie- 
William now was not growing bold : 

"Wished I could, but father sent me 
Here to clear the ground to-day, 

For the crop must all be planted 
By the coming of the May." 

At the sunset started William 
For his home, a full mile hence; 

Saw Queen Minnie kiss her hand and 
Wave, then glide behind the fence; 

Kissed his palm to her and, sprawling. 
Left his hat and ran or strode. 

Till he passed the dismal marches — 
Ne'er it seemed so good a road. 

Evening fell in tender silence, 
Twilight came with holy hush. 

While unwearied in the woodland 
Piped like Minnie one sweet thrush. 

In the clay cliff by the road side 

Swallow folded wings to rest. 
But more joy than knew the swallow 

Held the lone lad's lover-breast. 



BLOW! BREEZE 8, BLOW! 

BLOW ! blessing-laden breezes, blow ! 
Strew far thy perfumes, onward go ! 
Bear swift dear life's elixir free ; 
Breathe on the world as now on me. 

Could every breeze's burden be 
The cure of every malady, 
They were but as thou surely art — 
The health of this lone, weary heart. 

From out my casement I have scanned 
The length of leagues to forest grand, 
That sentinel, his height doth hold 
To guard the race — a warrior bold. 

And as I long, and leaning sigh. 
The heart, more seeing than the eye. 
Strong in immortal's native dower, 
Quaffs age of bliss this fleeting hour. 

I view thee hov'ring as the dove ; 
Ah ! is there lovelier one above 
Than she T see thee oft caress 
Whose life is winsome gentleness ? 
4 



50 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Mine ! now the secret of such charm 
To thrill and shield from bane and harm 
Thy myriad piniens waft the bliss 
Of one rare maiden's holy kiss. 

Can ever there be illness more, 
Exhaled sweetness on each shore — 
The antidote of death and doubt 
That wraps the aching earth about ? 

Blow ! happy breezes, bring to me 
O'er moorland far and fragrant lea 
All wealth of meadow, fruitful tree ; 
But thou hast naught so sweet as she. 

Blow breezes, with intensity. 
Blow balm and song ! Immensity 
Holds essence of her soul, as God 
In love doth send thee all abroad. 



WHY I AM GLAD. 

TrND would you know why I am glad, 
l\ With gladness passing measure? 
'Tis not for lore or fame or gold, 
But yet a richer treasure. 

'Tis not for triumph over foe, 
Nor even a friend's confiding ; 

Not respite from the stress of toil. 
Or blind hearts' bitter chiding. 

Crowning a day, in blessing rife, 
With naught of life's distresses, 

A little child trills out, "Good night," 
With truest love's caresses. 

Ah ! this is why my heart thrills so, 
With more than other pleasure — 

A child's full love to me doth flow — 
My fair and fadeless treasure. 



A WORD IN SEASON TO THE WEARY. 

"17^ AIN would I one fair message bear — 
i-^ A word in season to the weary; 
The toiling ones are everywhere, 

And many deem their lot so dreary. 
A word may make the burden light, 
Some word may point the pathway bright. 

'Tis but a word the tired will heed, 

A true, clear word, pure love revealing ; 

Yet that may heal some hearts that bleed 
And stay the toil-worn, faintly reeling. 

I would that magic word repeat 

Which makes a broken life complete. 

One labors for a fading good. 

As sinks the spirit, undiscerning ; 

And one hath wrought nor understood 

The seeming loss, while low aim spurning. 

Word of the wise and duly said. 

Be mine to raise the almost dead. 

Thou Word incarnate, given to man. 
Who weeps his weak and futile striving, 

Who with all succor to him ran. 

And art the soul of fair contriving — 

Thou art the word in human tone 

That rests the weary, thou alone. 



A WORD IN SEASON TO THE WEARY. 53 

In a wide world of endless work — 

Work all divine that waits the doing — 

That fearful, ill hearts else might shirk, 
Or the weary mar while still pursuing, 

Make me a tender, heartening voice. 

Till thou and they and I rejoice. 



H 



FORGIVE. 

AST grievance gravest ? 
If thou forgavest, 
Far richer thou and enemy wouldst be ; 
Bestow some kindness; 
'Twill end his blindness, 
And song and smile of friend shall circle thee. 

Be this well pondered : 

Hast thou ne'er wandered ? 
Perchance the less of injury wilt thou feel ; 

What life e'er ended 

Yet none offended, 
And what were life did love no fault conceal ? 

Hath wronged thee truly ? 

Curb passion duly 
And prove thy nobler soul, his good to seek ; 

Art high above him ? 

Then thou may'st love him ; 
None are the strong save those who help the weak. 

Beware repaying. 

And not delaying. 
The Just shall bring the hidden to the light ; 

Away thy sinning. 

Thy brother winning. 
And learn the Lord of all doth laud the right. 



FORGIVE. 55 

Who shall defend thee ? 

Might demons rend thee, 
Omniiic power the sworn ward of thy soul ? 

Thine anger spurning, 

With all love's yearning, 
Press reconciled toward that divinest goal. 

The sun is setting, 

heart, cease fretting, 
Let never wrath yon fading beam survive ; 

Now f alleth slumber — 

Shall evil cumber 
Where dreams of bliss might else unnumbered 
thrive ? 

Dawns endless morrow — 

Allow not sorrow 
From out thy heart the angel peace to drive ; 

Sleep then forgiving 

The dead and living, 
And waking, heaven enter, where none strive. 



THE WORKERS' PRAYER. 

®UR Master, to the work assigned us now, 
With eager hearts and ready feet we go ; 
May none give o'er who puts hand to the plow ; 
May faith be ours that joys of harvest know. 

Choice of our own prefers the lighter task, 
Or post thought large where more the meed of 
men, 

Let love be ours to loathe the dearest mask, 
And lift us nearer thee than we have been. 

Naught lacked we from thy hand when forth at 
first 
We went to strew good seed at thy dear word. 
Fatigue the toiler knows and keener thirst. 

But thou dost sate the yearning thou hast 
stirred. 

Thy joy our strength, in hope becoming pure. 
We thrill thy friendship's bond and word to feel, 

Told heavenly things that must for aye endure. 
Our rapt hearts burn and own far richer weal. 

We may not know our days or what their store; 

May we know thee, and by all waters sow. 
While evil bird and thorn and stone tempt sore ; 

Though tares be strewn, the grain shall surely 
grow. 



QONE—BUT MINE. 

SOISTE ! Strangely gone ! Ah whither, whith- 
er fled? 
Gone ! and thy radiant face, my early friend, 
I scarce might know, beholding thee to-day; 
For changed art thou, and I not as before. 

Gone ! Dreamlike was thy going, iinperceived 
As evening light, as summer's murmurous throng; 
So charmed was I in sweetest fellowship 
The twilight of thy passing shone as noon. 

Gone ! Soon and surely gone ! Thou wast so 

near — 
The roseate morn rose on us as one soul 
And bade us move in bliBsful unison. 
Where art thou, life, that hailed with me the dawn ? 

Gone ! and I may not call thee back again — 
Set forth on quest of souls beyond my ken ; 
Nay, I would not unworthy prove and wish 
Thee less to comfort me in lower sphere. 

Gone ! but before ; and I, upon the way 
Thy faithful feet have trod, shall enter too 
The kingdom of the disenthralled, when we 
Shall converse high begin — soul unto soul. 



58 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Gone ! but thoiT couldst not leave me ntterly ; 
Our severed union brief points to thy state, 
The thought of thy full life wakes joy below, 
And thou the more art mine — now gone before. 



THE FINAL LOT OF SOUL. 

(In reply to "Through a Glass Darkly," by Robert H. White.) 

BEHOLD, the youth to life mature aspires, 
Full many gaining not the dreamed-of goal, 
Held of grim vice or early passing hence. 
The final lot of soul, or woe or bliss. 
Shall vaunting man pronounce or may he know ? 
Not he, but the sole Judge, who will do right. 
And aye the trustful spirit onward wooes. 
In quest of growing, endless good revealed. 
Deem not the hope supreme — of life complete — 
Doth shame the heart or mock his earnest deed, 
Swayed by the might of proffered aid divine. 
A man ! thew, thought and heart in one entire — 
Breath of th' Eternal animating clay. 
That lo ! a season on the earth hath power 
Upon its deed, commanding destiny, 
Evincing human dower of lordship high. 
Man may be man — God's man — behold the Type! 
Moving appointed ways, in tutelage. 
Duly the royal heir, sceptered and crowned, 
Eeigns in dominion wide with the great King. 
Wilt dare assert that child of Holy Love, 
While yet babe frames but language of a cry, 
Doth not yet ever, "Father, Father," cry. 
In intuition full of folding care, 



60 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Untroubled of the coming need ? Behold 

The child set in the midst, and deeper lore 

Eeceive than crowns the sage, taught but of man. 

Who holds that reason maketh fully wise 

Is soul-fool, wanting innate knowledge, once 

His own in innocence on mother's breast. 

Doth not God to his child speak inly plain, 

Nor torture with suspense of vague surmise? 

The Highest only may be surely known. 

True riches kept, the infinite suffice - 

But hath each son the choice to heed and hold 

In free obedience to divine behest, 

Or take his substance and in riot waste — 

Love's bond were null were will a slave, 

The soul's relation bound in heartless fate. 

Then will the man be man? Through nigh on 

death. 
Thank heaven, if yet to will remain, he may ; 
For folly pity have, Father's embrace 
Of welcome home, aye riches manifold. 
But if he die ! Alas ! full wage of sin — 
Desire of good decayed, hope's ray no more. 
Rebellion ripe — consider well ! beware ! 
One demon's angel more perdition shares. 



A CHRISTMAS BURIAL. 

BRIGHT glows the evening sun, but round 
The tombs the north wind sweeps with sound 
Of wailing meet to serve the hour 
Of rending grief and fallen flower. 

Too low the light for funeral ; 
The sexton does not toll the bell. 
Would in the chapel standing there 
Were time for promise, psalm, and prayer ! 

By watching spent, through anguish torn. 
The sorrowing see his body borne 
Beyond the gate, and slowly start 
With tott'ring frame and shudd'ring heart. 

What dreary steps among the dead — 
Each stride hard by a dreamless head — 
To yon red mound of glist'ning clay 
That waits to wrap the lad away ! 

How bitter cold ? But tears will flow 
As falls the clod when he is low. 
Almost they freeze on the grief -wan cheek ; 
But the drops rain down, though the fount be 
weak. 



G2 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Sad rite the minister said and brief 
Word spake, well meant to lend relief ; 
Short hymn of prayer was voiced, and then 
An unsung prayer and sobbed amen. 

A cold, low sun, the crying blast, 

A slight, bare mound — and the mourners passed 

With a dumb awe and troubled breath 

To dwell awhile apart from death. 

season of worship, social bliss. 
And sportive, festive mirth ! We kiss 
Dead lips ; black sorrow bides a guest 
Where late sat he — but God's way is best; 

For where anthems of the seraph roll, 
Enraptured lists the home-led soul 
To pealing strains that ever rise 
The Christmastide, through endless skies. 



THE SWEETEST FLOWER THAT BLOWS. 

T N mother's garden, where it grew, 
* A glad babe loved the tints to view — 
Held this the sweetest flower that blew. 

Soon in a virgin plot her own 
A tiny hand a seed had sown, 
And kindly there the dear sun shone. 

Warm raindrops fell, and wooed the dew, 
Till up the flower-soul eager drew, 
And breath of Eden widely threw. 

Sped fragrant years of youth and maid ; 

When in her arms a cherub laid, 

Lo ! his sweet breath with the flowers strayed. 

Yet tenderer care the plant she gave. 
Still lovelier bloomed her soul, and brave, 
The flower set by the little grave. 

It fell in far-off land she met, 
Like her, a mother — eyes grief -wet — 
And bore a spray, all odorous yet. 

In other tongue she might not tell 
The magic name, but knew right well — 
That one forlorn — the potent spell. 



64 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

As silent, hand pressed warm in hand, 
A soothing air the hot cheek fanned, 
And solace answered heart's demand. 

Many blossoms on the new mound lay; 
But the mother oft was heard to say, 
"The choicest came from far away.'' 

And what that sweetest flower that blows, 
In every zone and season grows, 
And wings the widest sea that flows ? 

Native the growth of realm above. 
Its symbol here the hymning dove. 
And that fair flower is God — is Love. 



SABBATH MUSINGS. 

BLEST Sabbath day, dear house of 
prayer — 
First tokens of all-present Mind ! 
Ye lend earth her diviner air 
Till Sabbath of the soul we find. 

What multitudes have thronged to-day 
Time's temples to our God upraised, 

All-glorious courts that silent pay 

Their tribute with the lips that praised ! 

Have some with listless mind fulfilled 
The sacred round of word and way ? 

Has form been marred, devotion chilled, 
And truth made trifling by the gay ? 

Hath vanity paraded parts. 

In speech, apparel, psalm, and prayer, 
And envy shot her venomed darts. 

Or serpent's mien shone heavenly fair ? 

Yet heaven decrees high goal for man ; 

The primal spirit-hosts attend; 
Behold the height whence he began 

The destined splendor of his end ! 
5 



66 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Doth worship hold some part alloy ? 

Love looks for love ; where love may go 
Full hearts of grief will gather joy 

And learn that mercy stoopeth low. 

Let demons ever idly rage 

'Gainst human spirit's happy state ; 

Do not love's dreams the while presage- 
Immortal prime of soul elate ? 

Take heart, oppressed one ; voice thy woe. 

Dare not annul the right divine. 
Deep want doth prove thee loved below, 

And thrones and crowns above are thine, 



NEW YEAR'8 PRAYER. 

SOLE Sovereign of eternal spheres, 
Dispenser of onr planet's years, 
High Arbiter enthroned above 
In might of immeasurable love, 
We trace in grateful wonderment 
Thy league with earth, and are content. 

Beyond thought's range thy domain lies. 
How slight these bounds beneath the skies ! 
But vaster, fairer than all light 
The love that views the human blight 
Of a foul mote-world, and will not turn 
And let the leprous atom burn. 

Our praise for men who bless our past. 
They speak of thee while ages last. 
And ours their dreams' fulfillment long 
A ripening good : the choral song 
We joyful swell while yet we pray 
For earth's effulgent, final day. 

For victories of the vanished year 
That latest lit thy purblind sphere. 
Our humble thanks. No more may hoard 
Or want or craft obscure thy word ; 
Adoring Thee, let chastened art 
Command the earth and crown the heart. 



68 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Eelease the grov'ling earth-pent soul 
And gird it for the glorious goal 
Thou ehoosest. That alone is good 
When last is throned in brotherhood 
The regal-statured spirit wise 
Through love to instant ministries. 

So shall we walk thy wondrous ways 
And thrill the fallen one to raise 
Till visions all divine illume 
Dark mind and call behind the tomb 
The ransomed past the blight and pain 
To hail thy triumph and to reign. 



IN MEMORY OF REV. B. F. BLACKMON. 

SREEN be his grave ! His dust guard well, 
Sworn ward of death, herald of life. 
A radiant spirit soars to swell 

Glad hymns in realm of glory rife. 

Unmoved by fear in battle thick, 
The post of comrade faint he took, 

Braved mad war's terror ; nor were sick 
Or maimed or standard e'er he forsook. 

But gentleness hath made him great. 

Ah, word and tone and mien so mild. 
Vesture unfit for guise of hate ! 

How oft he hushed the tumult wild ! 

Forgot ? Not while aught good endures 
Or life divine throbs through a deed 

Or sympathy a bond insures 

In hearts so felt in voiceless need. 

Would soul inspired in epic strain 
Those deeds heroic might rehearse ; 

Let tenderest heart in low refrain 

Sing love that grief and gloom disperse. 



^0 FRAGMENTS OF SOlJ(J. 

And child, whom serving not, he wept,* 

Lisp sweetest lay of innocence. 
But lo ! his crown is wrought and kept 

Secure 'mid heaven's magnificence. 

Yet living more for evermore, 

Of life ascending, reigning heir. 
What state is that, what nameless store. 

What rapture, where praise crowneth prayer ? 

wise and guileless friend, e'er same. 

We've companied a golden while. 
And soon in beatific frame 

Shall join on far celestial aisle. 

W^ith welcome to the shadow dark, 
Unawed by billow's shock and roar, 

We with thy Captain shall embark 
And love thy greeting as before. 

*During his last illness, being unable, as requested, to adminis- 
ter baptism to certain children of his friends, it waa observed that 
he could not refrain from tears. 



VlSlTO THE HEIGHTS. 

HNTO the heights mine eyes I lift, 
Calm in their might sublime, 
Whence my support and every gift 
In any realm or time. 

Who raised the mountain's tow'ring crest, 
And spread vast heaven above ; 

In his embrace sure I may rest — 
Child of immortal Love. 

Ye prodding fears, depart, reproved 

Where God his arm reveals ; 
From ageless summit firm, unmoved, 

A nameless comfort steals. 

And still defended will I sing 
Through earth's expiring throe ; 

To him this tranquil soul he'll bring 
In ampler bliss than angels know. 



KINDNESS. 

©WONDROUS One, tender King, 
We would thy kindness duly sing, 
Show forth that kindness more and more 
That felt and wrought and all things bore. 

Thy gift, the grateful ties that bind ; 
Thy grace alone can make us kind. 
Give us each sacred claim to feel 
And ever wounded hearts to heal. 

Thy work — the task of hand and mind ; 
help us toil and still be kind ! 
Didst not thou 'neath thy burden bend 
In kindly labor, truest Friend ? 

Thy grief — love's offering spurned, unknown ; 
Let joy of kindness, all thine own. 
Gird our faint hearts till see the blind 
And dwell with thee, the bravely kind. 



ALONE WITH THEE. 

^^LONE with Thee ! let me in 
1 1. Thy secret presence bow me low, 
And wait in hope till of my sin 

Thou cleansest whiter than the snow. 

Alone with thee, Life of life ! 

With all beside is loneliness; 
And longing vain and endless strife 

The anguished spirit deep oppress. 

Alone with thee, and earth shall be 

All fair; and stronger grown, Friend, 

In hallowed fellowship with Thee, 
I shall my brother's cry attend. 

Alone, Lord, awhile with thee. 

I am so weary ; let me rest 
And learn love's wondrous potency 

Till all life's toil indeed is blest. 

Alone with thee. Soon passeth earth 
And low desire alike shall fail ; 

Then mine that boon of nameless worth — 
Alone with thee within the veil. 



WHAT TIME I AM AFRAID. 

WHAT time I am afraid — 
Why should I ever fear ? 
To Thee I look when sore dismayed, 
For thou art bending near. 

What time I am afraid — 
Forgive a child's affright — 

On thee I wait, who all hath made. 
For thou art girt with might. 

What time I am afraid — 

I will not longer fear. 
My heart in peace on thee is stayed, 

And love's light shineth clear. 

I cannot be afraid ; 

I fully trust in thee. 
And find thee in the light and shade 

The same eternally — 

The stay of trembling soul, 

Whate'er its trouble be ; 
With thee the while the billows roll, 

I walk a tranquil sea. 



LIFE TRIUMPHANT. 

HOW manifold is duty's call, 
How urgent and how great ! 
How strong the foe in endless form, 
And how unyielding fate ! 

Exceeding broad the royal word 

The spirit must attend. 
And narrow is the ordered way 

To life's illustrious end. 

But he who wrought and man stood forth 

The teeming earth to sway, 
Himself confers the godlike aim, 

And will the purpose stay. 

Lo ! in far ages, rude and dim, 
The large-writ record stands. 

Behold the trophies of pure hearts. 
The triumph of strong hands ! 

Anon eclipsed in error's night. 

The prey of vices grim. 
The imperial soul resplendent gleams, 

Wearing her diadem. 



76 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Through toil to strength, by gloom to light, 

Of discord framing song, 
From out the blast and battle shock 

To calm and vanquished wrong 

The mighty spirit mounts her way 

To destined regal state. 
All hail ! thou soul, who yet shall soar, 

The seraph's shining mate. 



B 



ON GALILEE. 
E not afraid," the storm-awed boatmen hear ; 



For thou wast ever needy spirits near. 
The dark and billow-surge their souls alTright, 
When lo ! thy form looms spectral in the night. 

Join us upon life's trackless, troubled sea ; 
And may we ne'er have doubt or dread of thee 
Who comest, Lord of life and element, 
To guide to port, where all shall dwell content. 

Behold the fishers while the billows beat 
As on our Galilee we toil for meat ; 
Bid us the net to cast and of the store 
Feast with us ever on the peaceful shore. 

Maker and Lord of men and earth and main. 
With thee we seek nor food nor haven in vain ; 
And evermore thy form illumes the night 
Till ours the vast of everlasting light. 



GOD'S MESSENGER. 

THOU chosen One to bear the Name trans- 
cending, 
To herald far the heavenly King's command, 
Be not unfaithful to thy charge unending, 

For know that thou before the Judge shall stand. 

Think not the Lord of all doth err in calling 
His messengers unto their fellow men; 

Say not some servant's mantle on thee falling 
Thou shouldst not wear with spirit's bright'ning 
ken. 

Lo ! many noble brothers tread before thee 
The path designed now sacred by their toil ; 

Doth not the prophets' burden loud implore thee, 
"From man's supremest mission ne'er recoil" ? 

Thine is to spread the tidings of the Highest ; 

Deem not the word thine own or known of man ; 
Yet when to speak the message thy heart criest, 

It shall be plain — so truth of old e'er ran. 

Be then a voice to bring sin's timely warning, 
To tell the mourner comfort hath been found ; 

Proclaim the coming of love's fadeless morning 
And holy freedom for the soul once bound. 



god's messenger. 79 

Forget not still thou art the Lord^s anointed 
To plead as his ambassador with men, 

And men will joy God hath thy sphere appointed 
And own a prophet hath among them been. 



SONGS IN THE NIGHT. 

^11 E giveth thee songs in the night, 
xl measureless gift of his love ; 
Deep shadows may fall on thy sight, 
Yet thou art e'er seen from above. 

E'er seen and defended thou art ; 

Ordained and defended thy way ; 
Through night as the day for thy heart 

There waiteth a heavenly lay. 

sing forth thy anthem, though gloom 
Hath shrouded the coveted goal ; 

The power that reigns o'er the tomb 
Will waken a caroling soul. 



SABBATH EVE. 

5-rr^IS Sabbath eve — a respite blest, 
X A refuge from the wearing thrall, 

A heart of cheer for him distressed 
And love and hope supreme for all. 

'Tis Sabbath eve, and calm and rest 
Have eased worn hearts of toil and wrong; 

A larger peace girds those long blessed, 
And some have first heard angel's song. 

'Tis Sabbath eve. What of the morn ? 

We at the dawn salute the day. 
The noon of endless love is born, 

Now speed our night and pain away. 
6 



HELP US PRAY. 

-^F^O thee all praise, almighty Love, 
«JL Who dost attend us from above. 

And spirit's cry wilt yet inspire 

With utmost of divine desire. 

Bear with us. Lord of tender care ; 
On each bestow the heart of prayer. 
No ampler gift may man receive ; 
Without what might our want relieve ? 

Kind Helper of the blind and weak. 
We are most strong when thee we seek. 
Thou canst not strive in us in vain 
While we thy purpose would attain. 

help us pray, we humbly call, 
And still would know 'tis asking all ; 
Thy will our joy — our sorrows blessed, 
Eich being poor, thy burden rest. 



A KINGLY RAGE. 

^T~^ HOU God of nations, King of kings, 
■ J_ Make us thy royal subjects free ; 

Thy loving might our safety brings, 
And we are blessed alone of thee. 

Give us to view the countless host 
That joying serves thy kingdom far ; 

Forbid the brutal, little boast 
That blinds us unto what we are. 

Dispenser of all dreams of power, 
Inspire us till we make them true ; 

That strong in all our godlike dower. 
We worship thee in measure due. 

Thee we would feel our life within ; 

And knowing, yet the more discern. 
Twice blessed, that thou most real hath been. 

And art still more the more we learn. 

Our thought all purer, ampler mold 
Till we thy mind adoring trace. 

And peoples all thy purpose hold. 
And war no more — a kingly race. 



TRUST. 

SHIELD and Reward of Abram old, 
May I, as he, in faith be bold 
To grasp thy promise ever new 
And prove as he that thou art true. 

The young of lions hunger know, 
And strength supreme can but bestow 
A portion scant: who seek thee first 
Shall never hunger more nor thirst. 

Thou, God, who art enough for me, 
I would from anxious load be free ; 
Deliver from all fear of need 
That I may boast in thee indeed. 

Spirit of faith, in each the same. 
Increase within thy sacred flame ; 
Yet purge and cheer an eager heart 
Till strong to speak that better part. 



SAFE IN THE FOLD. 

SAFE in the fold of the Shepherd divine, 
Pastures of infinite tender green mine, 
Still and pure waters my constant delight — 
Safe in the fold, ever kept by his might. 

Straying and perishing far from the fold, 
Came the good Shepherd, unheeding the cold, 
Bade a sad wanderer return and be blest. 
Bore me in pity at home aye to rest. 

Tended by Love that hath trod the dark wild, 
Lifting the dying as mother her child, 
N'ever unfilled can a want more betide ; 
Well for his sheep will the Shepherd provide. 



THE SHADOWED WAY. 

THE shadowed way, the shadowed way, 
And I shall walk there too some day ? 
Why wish in dread another path 
Than that my every brother hath ? 

changeful human course below, 
And shall there be no crowning glow ? 
Yea, grateful shade to soothe tired eyes. 
And then at eve new lights arise. 

No want by day, no fear of night ; 
Who owns me his will guard his right 
And stay my steps till shades are past. 
And I shall dwell secure at last. 

The shadowed way cannot be long ; 
The valley path has wakened song, 
As with the pilgrim walks his Guide 
And lights gleam from the other side. 

sweet the cheer of that sure way ! 
When I shall pass, no sad word say. 
Ah ! soon we gather on the height, 
And ne'er shall grieve the jeweled night. 



THE KILLDEE. 

THROUGH a dale a brooklet glides, 
Loved by tree and shrub and vine ; 
Near the coy sweet violet hides 

And the ferns their chaplets twine, 
While the grass 
In wide morass 
Trims the meadow on its sides. 

In the marshy meadow there 
Lives a melancholy bird — 
Queerest bird — the killdee fair; 
And its wail I oft have heard, 
Day and night 
As pain or fright 
Drove it startled on the air. 

Slender like the willow wand, 

Lithe, dove-lmed, alert and shy. 
Will it not at last respond 

To the wood birds chanting by. 
Leave the mere 
And moaning fear, 
Slip with sheeny wing its bond ? 

Still it bides the brook beside 

Hiawatha's heron like, 
And a sprite scarce more could hide, 



88 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

Gliding, stooping ; then will strike 
Through its form 
Some wild alarm, 
Or deep grief the while betide. 

One cold eve I caught the cry ; 

Faint and shrill and sad indeed. 
"Does it mourn a mate ?" thought I. 
"What could make its poor heart bleed. 
Thus alone, 
The daylight gone, 
And no star in all the sky ?" 

Once a stranger, noting, said : 

'•'What distress down by the brook ? 

Dirge it might be for the dead. 

Or some lover late forsook 

Given o'er 

To anguish sore 

For companion, false and fled." 

Why, weird creature of the dell. 

Flit so frantic, no harm near ? 
Art thou daft or under spell 
Demons weave, as thus I hear 
Panic shriek 
Or wailing weak 
Blent with tone of passing bell ? 



THE KILLDEE. 

When in spring the world will sing 

I have seen thee circling o'er 
Thy native vale on silver wing. 
Piping as unheard before ; 
But in vain 
That sportive strain. 
Grief and fear about it cling. 
Others praise while thou dost plead ; 

Others thrill, thou art forlorn ; 
Wealth have some, thou feelest need- 
Swift pursued, by terrors torn — 
Yet not here. 
The mead were sere. 
Shorn of life and mystic deed. 

Stay ! I love this realm of thine, 
Fair as found on any strand ; 
Stay ! and when the sad repine, 
Teach them life in love is planned, 
And the best. 
At last confessed. 
Answers end supreme, benign. 

Who lives but in woe and fears 

And ne'er sees the larger world. 
While he weeps beside all biers 
From abode all love-impearled. 
Through his pain, 
D^oid of stain. 
Shall be great by simple tears. 



GLOOM AND GLEAM. 

TEN circling snns looked on a shrouded world, 
^Neath dense and seamless cloud, pall closely 
furled. 
A slender moon led up the dreary dawn 
That came slow-paced as from no quarter drawn ; 
But stealing through all borders like deep sound 
Of distant earth-shock rumbling underground. 
No ear can locate. Day was feebly born 
And lay in swaddling mist by swooning morn. 
Nor man nor bird nor beast moved far without. 
The barn fowl neared the wood, then fled in rout. 
Scarce swayed the wind a twig, so slow it crept. 
The cedar's berry-laden branches wept. 
Slight rain or sleet dropped through the death-still 

gloom. 
And life was like a dream dreamed in a tomb. 

'Twas in the night the earth broke thrall ; and out 
Into the dark dim eyes were turned in doubt 
Of fairer morrow, when the far, decked vault 
Gleamed forth serene. Yet ready for assault. 
His skin shield grasped Orion, threatening stroke ; 
Mild Pleiades' diffusive influence woke 
The soul of him who peered, eyes passion-wide, 
Till long he strode and gazed with none beside. 
Entranced and stilled with awe and wonderment, 



GLOOM AND GLEAM. 91 

The weary watcher sought repose, content; 
And slumb'ring dreams of jeweled arch o'erhead 
Till faint light wakes a sleeping clond low-spread. 
Then from a height beholds the long, dun rack 
Take fire and fly upon the crescent's track. 
Full soon mist troops are speeding to the field 
Of fray, nor ever vantage lightly yield. 
The black battalions, ranged in dread array. 
Withstand onset, defying lordly day. 
No din of battle falls or dying cry 
From where serial foes fight for the sky. 
And seems a time of doubtful end the bout. 
The king perchance is fallen or put to rout. 
Ah, now ! his shaft smites sure, the ranks retreat 
Or sink in gory heaps beneath his feet, 
And, flushed with conquest from the ghastly strife. 
Fares on triumphant, hailed by earth's glad life. 



LITTLE GOLD THORN LEAVES. 

LITTLE gold thorn leaves, 
f Can you not stay 
Decking these long boughs 
Many a day ? 

Clinging through storm winds, 

Greening in glow, 
Radiant and grateful, 

Now will you go ? 

You will be missed so, 

Murmurous throng ; 
When you have vanished. 

Hushed is the song. 

Swallows are circling, 

Ready for flight ; 
Sparrows, though chirping, 

''All will be right." 

Up rolls the deep mist, 

Zephyrs awake. 
Wooing you outward 

Over the lake. 

Flutt'ring, you follow. 

Sparkling the way. 
Fairer in passing 

Than on the spray. 



LITTLE GOLD THORN LEAVES. 93 

Filled your high mission, 

Lovely gold leaves ? 
I. shall be wiser 

When the heart grieves. 

Passed, but not perished ; 

Changed, but not gone ; 
Creatures immortal — 

God's every one. 

Low in the earth-mold. 

There on the lea. 
Feeding the flowers, 

Feeding the bee, 

Spreading in perfume, 

Beauteous far more; 
God cannot lose you. 

Mine, fuller store. 

Eicher than earthly. 

Garnered to-day. 
Held by the spirit. 

Wealthier for aye. 

Little gold thorn leaves, 

Cometh the night; 
But, with the sparrows, 

"All will be right." 



TO AN INSECT IN WINTER. 

WHENCE came thee, tiny insect, all alone, 
Perched in midwinter 'neath my mid- 
night light? 
Who keeps and cheers thy life in this cold zone ? 
Where are thy comrades, rare and ebon mite ? 

Doth my good fire call forth life's primal thrill 
From out the mystic, moving deep profound ? 

And will an hour that term of being fill 
That in a foot of space performs its round? 

Or in late calm of mellow autumn gloom 
Did friendly whisper find thee on the lawn. 

And, leading, lodge full blessed within my room 
Till wild world-carol hail the vernal dawn ? 

As, ark complete, within in order filed 

The obedient types of all vile earth's dumb life. 

Didst thou too heed like call from thy loved wild. 
And shelter from the elemental strife ? 

Those two imploring arms I ponder why; 

Slight, fragile creature, why that glist'ning 
shard ? 
Who made thee so hath wrought infinitely. 

May I thy life read clearly afterward ? 



THE PINE SHRUB. 

BRIGHT o'er the hill's brow yon pine 
shrub, 
A slight and single gem 
Of emerald hue, meant for the land 
To wear as diadem. 

What held my sight that ne'er before 

In all wide winter's realm 
This gleam I caught beyond the lone, 

Majestic, monarch elm ? 

'Mid summer's myriad boughs and blooms, 

One of earth's treasures less. 
The rev'ling eye weeps not, nor might 

One more have power to bless. 

As miser, gloating on his hoard. 

Brute-sated by his gold — 
More dimly sees life's several good 

And all as one doth hold. 

So once I knew me rich in store, 

Of grateful, restful green, 
But lost this solitary charm, 

Merged in the blurring mean. 

Alas ! the transience of my world 

Of verdure bowed me low. 
As field and forest, sere and bare. 

Wore shroud of ice and snow. 



96 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

drear and desolate my lot, 

Stripped of these treasures dear; 

Where'er I gazed, the mournful view 
Of mocking void and bier. 

Naught might restore ; but, ah ! while life 
Is dear, no bound will know ; 

And craving least, as very wealth, 
Behold the pine spires glow ! 

Henceforth I seek in genial hours 

The lovely evergreen, 
And keep in glacial airs the charm 

Of lonely glimm'ring sheen. 

And Hope's fair bow now spans the vast 

Of seeming loss and death. 
And tells me all but sleep to wake 

With a diviner breath. 

When comes man to that wiser age. 
While rich, with calm, sane heart. 

Unspoiled by treasure manifold. 
Discerning part from part ? 

When looks man on his fellows round 

And sees perennial worth, 
And lauds that, while the fading hue 

Yet flares through all the earth ? 



© 



VOICES OF SPRING. 

OST hear in all the land to-day the chorns 
past our learning ? 

In unison the rude-toned frogs hail joyous Spring's 
returning. 

Why swells this tuneless, generous note my grati- 
tude awaking ? 

Do these deep-sleeping creatures dream the trend 
the sun is taking, 

Or warmer under pulses throbbing rap the door of 
slumber, 

And birdlore, lavished overhead, wake echoes with- 
out number? 

Ecstatic twit'rer, why these boughs among if not 
espying 

Some quarter fair for nest twig till the fledgeling 
join you flying? 

The thousand blackbirds dash as one against the 
gale, wings glist'ning — 

A tree for temple, worship follows sport, and heav- 
en is list'ning. 

The jab'ring jay has given to-day, with many a 
bow, good pledges ; 

And wren and redbird call the hawthorn blossom 
in the hedges ; 

The lark, elate, chants o'er his field, lost in the 
genial sunbeam ; 

The bluebird's faint, sweet warble glides like 
laughter in youth's love dream. 
7 



SNOWBIRDS. 

SEE, through the thick and driving snow 
The tiny, nimble snowbirds fare ; 
Who will divine where now. they go, 
Or if for food or sport they care? 

The little rovers ronnd the world 
Stay not to ask of right or way; 

They come 'mid snowflakes downward whirled, 
And m'errily chirp through all the day. 

Their coats of slate-hue, sheeny bright. 

With slight snow caught on wing and breast. 

The beak — a snowflake — Just as white — 
How neat from naked feet to crest ! 

Now ruffled by the roar of gun. 

They flit from view, but quick again 
Into the garden skim with fun. 

And nip the grass in quest of grain. 

With many a rapid thrust of beak. 
And many a drastic, dancing scratch. 

They dine; and singly, whisking, seek 
In hedge or dale their house of thatch. 

falling snow, so fair, so fair, 
My soul and earth thy glory girds, 

Yet lovelier thou wli^n from somewhere 
Glide down with thee the glad snowbirds. 



® 



WAYSIDE V0ICE8. 

THE grasses, the clovers, the violets, the 
mosses, 

Eare evergreen comrades that cheer winter's 
day; 
Dear Nature's own planting; they gladden my 
journey 
And bear the good tidings, "You have treasures 
that stay." 

The beauty and fragrance of roses will vanish. 
Their charms but a season enrapture the heart; 

Well enough — if man's labor from earth must all 
perish, 
God's own, ever lovely, shall never depart. 

Man's labor all perish? Not while wild flowers 
flourish. 

Defying the onslaught of sleet and of blast; 
The fruit and the flower the husbandman tendeth, 

Yet feed and regale him when cycles are past. 

faith of the toiler, be mine as my breathing. 
The promise of seed time and harvest to hold ; 

Then wider my sowing, then richer my gleaning, 
Diviner the meaning these voices unfold: 



100 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

"Anght lost? But the seeming; spirit, mount 
upward, 

Deem not tender bond or dear treasure decayed ; 
Beside the bright way of the joyful immortals 

Abloom are the flowers the frost could not fade." 



WIND AND SNOW. 

^^Tf LL day the virgin snow has charged 
1^ The arctic air and veered with haste 

The standing object ^round, or graced 
The barren space with gems dislodged 
From reabn sublime; a silent loom 
Wove stainless shroud for faded bloom, 
And thoughts of men have been enlarged. 

Look now upon yon crystal pile, 
Builder elate ; see pure ideal 
Of shapen thing glow in the real ; 

The model all divine of aisle 

And arch and dome symmetrical 
Is thine. Lo ! charms innumerable 

That from the lower aim beguile. 

In whirring wind and whisking snow 
The sob and dance were wed to-day. 
Dear wind and snow, we eager pay 

The truth to hold which ye bestow ; 
A message bear 3^e to the earth — 
Fair mission of a moan and mirth— 

mournful wind, sportive snow. 



IN EARLY SPRING. 

THE March wind lulls, and slowly 
The pearly raindrops fall ; 
The cedar stoops resplendent, 

The warblers wildly call ; 
And spite of damp and chill air, 

Child, bird, nor roving fowl 
Will own a bar this springtime 
Or heed give any scowl. 

Beneath the heaps of brown leaves 

Hide herb and insect snug ; 
But lo ! the cock is calling ; 

And woe to waking bug 
And tender grass sj)ire greening 

As forth fond mates all hie 
With beak and feet quite busy 

Such dainty meal to spy. 

Beyond the wood the greensward, 

And there the sport of boys, 
The vain bronze turkey strutting 

Mocks all their savage noise. 
Ha ! see the cold drops falling, 

Strike through his plumage spread. 
And now the swagg'ring creature 

Will mope with low-drooped head. 



IN EARLY SPRING. 103 

Ho ! yonder trudging blandly, 

Beside the brimming rill, 
Behold my brave Columbus 

Toil up the glorious hill. 
He sails his leaf boats many 

And murmurs many a word ; 
Ah ! how could he but wander. 

The call o' the spring is heard ! 

A day of mystic brooding, 

The world's pulse throbs anew, 
A faint, sure voice prophetic 

Sings on, whate'er I do. 
The mocker, lark, and linnet 

Have visited my door, 
And one great word their message, 

"More life for evermore." 

Eaise strain sublime o' summer's 

Long, calm, and cloudless day, 
When life and song at floodtide 

Eedeem earth from decay. 
Yet hymn me one slight anthem 

Of Spring in dear, dim days, 
When jewel-tipped is my cedar 

And, unafraid, life strays. 



BLOW! BLOW! WIND. 

BLOW ! blow ! wind, 
O'er arctic tract, from snow-girt lair; 
But I coast and climb with jolly chums 
On the crystal slope — a palace fair — 
With full moon, far blue, dancing stars, 

By weird, dim wood, fierce bandits' hold — 
Mild home lights glimm'ring on hazy crest 
^Neath thin, pale cloud in fairy fold. 

Blow ! blow ! wind. 

From lone, white height and plain impearled ; 
The eye of morn will find stark flock 

And men in long sleep through a frozen world; 
But I dread not the bite nor heed thy shock. 

Though the elm bow low and rocks the wall. 
Though sheep and keeper wake not at dawn. 

0, the glee on the slope where the rare lights fall ! 

Blow ! blow ! wind ! 

Thy ghastly deeds the day will mourn; 
But youth shall sport on glossy glen 

And his shout swell over field forlorn. 
Ho, lads, for a slide down yon hillside. 

And half to summit beyond we go ; 
We're men and brave where mad winds rave. 

And the glee on the slope we only know. 



BLOW ! BLOW ! O WIND. 105 

Blow ! Blow ! wind, 

From thy eternal, boreal clime ; 
But ne'er will palace fair be reared 

On moor and down as in youth's prime. 
Where dwellings line the level street, 

The lovely, curling valley glowed ; 
Where clung the elm and bare peaks shone. 

The various race has made abode. 

Blow ! blow ! wind. 

From thy castles desolate and hoar ; 
And I would my comrades I could find, 

But ne'er shall hear them call me more. 
The noblest sank in murky deep. 

And wild, sad voices mourned his fate ; 
A gallant sprite in summer passed 

And dreamed he stayed a clam'ring mate. 

Blow ! blow ! wind, 

On rigid wold, on shiv'ring heart ; 
But I must love thee tenderly. 

Old friend, and wish we ne'er might part. 
With thee from mystic, treasured past, 

Dear spirits tend me left and right. 
So on this silver-crested cliff 

I climb and hail thee in the night. 



(D 



CHRIST. 

STAINLESS, radiant, peerless Prince of 
Peace, 

All wonders' Crown, all races' one Desire, 
Whom titles, by no skill these tongues acquire, 
Suffice to name, whose secret charms ne'er cease 
As speed the years, but with strange might increase 
And evermore doth lift full man far higher 
Than happiest dreams unlit by thee aspire, 
And bring prone life from ache of care release. 

Thy blood-red footprints make earth holy land ; 
Thy deeds each day a Sabbath service-fraught ; 
Those spike-scarred hands alone all spheres com- 
mand; 
And thy word, life-charged, life the dead has 
brought : 
Lead still till welcomed home with thee we 
stand 
And all of joy is ours we ever sought. 



DISENTHRALLED. 

■'T^HE world is ridier grown, nor cynic sneer 
L Nor might of wrong disturbs the trusting 

heart. 
Up, cringing spirit, haste to dwell apart 

From fear; the nations' Eansom standeth near, 

And myth-faiths passing yield him rightful sphere : 
From Stoic's sullen creed, from Mystic's dream, 
From Islam's aim, to Israel's, lo ! they teem. 

The spirit's worship native is, and clear 

At length beams forth the glory of the deed; 

Even as his boasted speech man found diverse, 

And labor must annul high Babel's curse. 

So hearts have stammered, lisping out deep need 
In heaven's tongue till richly falls the meed — 

With the one God man freely doth converse. 



THE DEPARTED. 

SCARCE may we think they are not with us 
still- 
There in adjoining room or place hard by. 
They wait our coming or our call ; so nigh 
Their very forms, words, deeds, or songs quite fill 
The yearning mind, and dwelling there until 
Dear memory dies, they live. Ah ! could they 

die? 
"Lo, unreplying, unreturning," sigh 
The lonely, wondering at the sovereign Will. 
But if alive within while here we go, 
And ever living there beyond the tomb. 
Do not our loved departed live the more ? 
Earth-robe laid by, they may no loss e'er know 
Who pass redeemed our bourne and enter home, 
Theirs holy joy of a supernal lore. 



THE SINGER AND HIS SONG. 

FEOM stations various seer-songs are born 
That breathe vast calm and cheer on strife 
and gloom^ 
Girding faint heart with joy, controlling doom ; 
But song of many a true bard, bound, forlorn, 
In sorrow struggles up to life ; each morn 

Scant hope comes with the light whose gentle 

gleams 
Wake glee and grace, but mock his dearest 
dreams, 
Leaving a prey to scorn, of meed full shorn. 
Albeit native song is to that soul. 

While life vicarious loves to lend it speech. 
And ne'er is lesson learned song doth not teach ; 
Spurning the fading bay for higher goal. 
His name, unknown, is found on heaven's scroll, 
And angels will him crown, past mortal's reach. 



THE VI^ POETIC AGE. 

AEACE gold-crazed, ease-snared, and sold for 
bread ; 
See ! the low age ignores her song-lord's word." 
Say not that man is base and never heard 

The mighty voices of the mighty dead, 

Nor now doth hear ; that e'er an epoch fed 
In vain the following ; that the last is stirred 
And raised not by the first. Though oft de- 
ferred, 

The chaplet wreathes the worthy prophet's head ; 

And yet he speaks, and must while men have strife. 
Crave cheer and love and heavenly purity. 

Deem not his verse vain ornament of life 
Nor labored lay his want's security; 

More fair the world and nobler dearer still 

The bard's high song that shall the ages thrill. 



MY MOCKER IN WINTER. 

WEIRD bird, sole tenant of my cedar near, 
Afore I ne'er so much conld love the tree, 
But now abode of cheer and melody, 
Thy dwelling dearer is, and thou more dear. 
Through death-like wintry days thou dost appear 
The shrub's fair soul ; the boughs so fitting thee, 
Small wonder, with thy going, should I see 
Them fall, lie ever still, and all be sere. 
Thy mood the hour doth nobly wed and raise — 
Silence for sleep and rest and dreams for deeds. 
I chide thee not, though chary now of song ; 
Thyself art music moving, and true lays 
Of life prelude the note man ever heeds : 

Soon wilt thou croon the purpling buds 
among. 



TO A VIOLET. 

LOVED violet, the van of blooming band, 
Coy harbinger of undreamt beauty still. 
Thy petals' form and veins and tints so fill 
The eye and overflow with presence bland, 
I mourn not want of fragrance when, as hand 
Clasps hand, good cheer and sweetness wild dis- 
till 
Upon a soul erst arid as yon hill 
In drought and, like to it, did barren stand. 
High minister, no minion knowest thou; 

Meek voice, unheard by hosts, though crying 
loud 
From winter's wilderness — snow on thy brow : 
Speak ever life more high, lived from the crowd — 
Lived when earth's chill the ardent soul would 
bow — 
Life evermore, past silence and the shroud. 



A DAY. 

®DAY, supremely fair, too dear to die, 
Thy loveliness a sacredness doth crown ; 
And none might rue a winter's seeming frown, 
When, after gloom and snow and storm, the sky, 
With hoarded golden light, doth glorify 

This orb, transfigured past her old renown. 
Arrayed in robe immaculate, adown 
Eesplendent aisles, rapt hosts the scene descry. 
So clear, so hushed the air, this holy eve — 

As home from house of prayer entranced I halt 
To view the pageant of the west, to leave 

The spot seems half a sacrilege, a fault 
To whisper but in praise, lest heaven should grieve 
A jar 'mid hymns, where bowed ones throng yon 
vault. 
8 



POEM OF LIFE. 

THOU poem of my life, elusive yet, 
I yet may voice these murmurs in the 
soul — 
Each day I hear more near the anthems roll. 
And when thou comest, would thou wert well met ; 
Till I impart thee whole I own a debt 

Impending to my kind, though ne'er required 
Save voiceless need holds thy rich store de- 
sired, 
Which, sharing not, I sink in sad regret. 

In any hour, or if at ease or tired. 
Thou hast not far removed, but cheered and wooed 
Till bliss I deem it but to brood and brood 
Upon thy loveliness ; and thence inspired. 
Find Song of my Life, and life a psalm 
Enrapturing, diffusing joy and calm. 



MAN'S DRESS. 

MAN is that creature Nature never clad, 
But dowered well with powers to procure 

From realm remote, apparel meet, though poor 
In purse and place he wander lone and sad. 
Slight care befell ere artful clothier's fad, 

Ere that frail foliage veil, shame rudely wrought 

Or fur of brute for avid Eve was brought, 
And vanity of the millinery-mad. 

But pristine nudeness, out of mind, he sighs 
Not that it comes no more ; but skilled and strong, 
A garment fair is fashioned 'spite of wrong — 

As Joseph's plaid appeared in Jacob's eyes : 
Yet ampler robe of beauty may he don — 
Nobler soul's garb— while roll the ages on. 



QUEEN SOUL. 

YEA, Queen, should man essay our love to sing 
And laud the magic cord that binds us twain, 

His toil were idle, deed well-nigh profane; 
Else mortal powers might voice the strains that 

ring 
In heaven, or secret of the sky dare bring 

Disrobed for gaze of prying, purblind earth. 

Beyond domain where light hath ever birth 
Was wafted our life lot on seraph's wing : 

^Tis solely ours, who hold in bliss a gift 
Secure that none can wholly learn beside : 
Ah, well enough, Queen Soul, that we abide ; 

And when the shades of border land shall lift. 
Still 'twill be well, whate'er shall then betide. 

For one may never from the other drift. 



WITH TRUTH SECURE. 

FEIEND, as for me, make now thyself at rest ; 
I herald truth the world at last shall feel." 

Yea, thou high bard serene, the fleet years steal 
Away and witness bear thou knewest best — 
Thy word for aye fulfilled. Visions unguessed 

Streamed on the soul sworn to all human weal ; 

A sure, far goal no mists of time conceal 
Loomed grandly on thee, seer, supremely blessed. 
That valiant ministry shall all men praise. 

That message yet embrace, divinely taught ; 
Perennial truth, voiced in melodious lays, 

Enduring guerdon of the spirit wrought; 
And while the foe maligned and friend gave doubt, 

In blissful calm was beat thy music out. 



WARNING. 

BEWARE, bright maiden, subtly Sin destroys 
And art seductive constitutes his arms; 

Hear Nature's warnings weird; her high alarms 
Are friend of conscience, guardian of our joys; 
Ah, wilt thou trifle, all thy charms but toys. 

And hail with glee the fiendish tempter's tryst ? 

Beware, fair maiden, of the villain's list ! 
From shame guard well thy being's airy poise. 
Lest falling low, thou rise not up again; 

Thy virtue gone, thy lot is, aye, forlorn 

With man, though guilt, thou and the angels 
mourn : 
Fear not thy part to bear of woman's pain 
In holy chastity, but harlot's stain 

Flee as a thousand deaths forever borne. 



TO-DAY. 

tET me but wholly nobly live this day — 
f Fairer than all earth's cycles fleetly run- 
So shall I hail with cheer the later sun 

Yet opulent the more; strew desert way 

To spring a plenteous store, and surely stay 
Some fainting pilgrim till his goal be won. 
Who dreams the mighty deeds of ages done 

But robs the dead, and his vik ease shall pay 
The debt of death; who lowly and alert 

Holds gratefully his dower, and by the sum 
Bequeathed doth royal lineage assert 

In worthy labor that the new world come, 
Him shall the life of eons thrill and speed, 
And he alone to-day may live indeed. 



LIFE. 

(g\ SUBTILE Life, unknown, holy as vast, 
.J Thou surging, chartless, and majestic sea : 

I am of thee, and thine immensity 
Doth no alarms beget; for aye thou hast 
Thy dwelling and thine own when dearth is past. 

Flow on, thou infinite flood, since there shall be 

^Neath other stars yet fairer destiny. 
And ever realms sublimer than the last. 
High tide ! and sweeping time's low shore, 

Thy currents swell toward eternity ; 
And drop to drop and deep on deep, yet more 

The mist-wrought billows from earth's channel 
flee. 
And soar in other guise, whence rose of yore 

The hymns of living waters mightily. 



WORDSWORTH. 

eLEAR-visioned seer, divinely taught thy lay ; 
Faithful preceptor of all outdoor lore, 

Adept interpreter of Nature's store, 
How bravely, blandly didst thou cheer thy day 

With golden melodies ! What burdens bore 
Ere meed of merit came — far lesser souls 
Eequited overmuch ! Thy spirit molds 

A mighty anthem where we thought us poor : 
Observer of the faintest caroling brook. 

Wild lover of tiniest cove and bird and flower. 
Thou calFst men back to earth (well-nigh forsook), 

And from fair Eidal Mount, in regal power. 
Of simple majesty, on us dost look. 

While Grasmere holds a glory till latest hour. 



BURNS. 

(J^EAR Burns, th}^ day of gloom and din and 
JJ/ storm 

Ill-fitted quick, wild, glowing soul as thou: 

So say we weeping early on thy brov*^, 
Death's mark — o'erborne of host that wrought 

thee harm. 
Yet who might doubt of mission fair when calm. 

Sure Justice cries thy meed and men avow 

Thy verse throbs human with them — richer now 
For boon of cheer and stay of brother's arm? 
Who trills those dainty, haunting ditties rare, 

Or spies such glory by the common clod ? 
What Nature's child shows her in all so fair ? 

Not Scotia's realm can boast one there has trod. 
Still need have we of hearing "Willie's Prayer" 

And much that grave word, ^luet us worship 
God." 



TWO LITTLE BOYS AT CHRISTMAS. 

®NCE two little boys awoke soon in the morn- 
ing 
And talked in low tones of the Christmas so 
near. 
(An age it had seemed since the day now return- 
ing— 
As nothing old joys, these at hand are so dear.) 

The school days are counted that yet must be num- 
bered 

At study and practicing speeches and such 
Ere the holly stands laden with glittering presents 

And Santa shall bless every gift with a touch. 

They wonder what presents for them he shall find 
there 
As he calls out the names of the fortunate ones : 
"Some story books, fireworks, some fruits, nuts, 
and candies. 
Or autos, fire wagons, and long, shining guns ?" 

But lo ! now their voices have sunk to a whisper — 
They^re telling what others, their sweethearts, 
must get — 

And father, eavesdropping, must listen the closer 
To learn if his lads will soon land him in debt. 



124 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

"I'll get a big doll for Irene, worth a dollar/' 
Declared generous William; 'twas more than he 
had. 

His brother was equally lavish for Lillian ; 
But a question arose, and they reason half sad : 

"How, how shall they know that we gave them 
the presents?" 
A moment of silence, and the younger knew 
well: 
"I'll give her the doll my own self when I buy it. 
And never a soul in the world will I tell." 

Amused T^as the father, and thought of his boy- 
hood, 
When there lived for him too a coy, wee fairy 
queen ; 
And he said, "There must be some dolls bought, 
for then surely 
These boys will be happy as boys have e'er been." 



THE MORNING FIRE. 

€HEEEILY, merrily carols the fire, 
Lighted chill morns of the year ; 
Wakens the spirit to dare and aspire, 
Winning a widening sphere. 

Sweet is the solace of iireside at eve. 

Cordial its welcoming glow ; 
Age loves to dream there, and there age may 
grieve — 

Life, like the flame, has burned low. 

Eapidly, heartening, the early fire climbs. 

Clasping the fagots with glee ; 
Ho ! for the lad who arises betimes. 

Such a rare pageant to see. 

When the day passeth, the children at play 

Wake the glad echoes afar ; 
''Children's hour," lover of children would say ; 

"Nothing that ecstasy mar." 

Buoyant, fair child, be thy hour without end. 

Filled with diviner delight ; 
Catch the first joy the kind flames will thee lend, 

Viewing thy life in their light. 

Youth shall see visions surpassingly fair, 

Visions a quest may fulfill ; 
One you may find in the morning fire there^ 

Ijook, then, my lad, with a will. 



AT AUNT 'RIAH'8 HOUSE. 

WHEN I went over to Aunt 'Eiah's, 
I made myself at home, you know ; 
For I was just some four or five, 
And used to often go. 

Aunt *Eiah lived across the lane 

From us, and blocks were by the fence 

To step upon. Tliere was no gate ; 
I've known it ever since. 

But I could climb upon the blocks, 
And from the top one see the length 

Of that long street, as then it seemed. 
While I admired my strength. 

One day old Rose, our cow, came up 

To see her baby calf, and my ! 
She might have killed me, but I climbed 

Upon the woodpile high. 

But I still went to Aunt 'Eiah's house. 
Across the lane and orchard wide : 

She was so good, and always came 
When I was hurt or cried. 



AT AUNT 'RIAH's HOUSE. 127 

Then I crawled where a sitting hen 
Had nest far under the low floor ; 

She squalled and flew so loud and strong 
I bumped my head till sore. 

At Aunt ^Riah's house I found a gun 
And, muzzle foremost, drug it down 

High steps to try my hand at game — 
But some one happened round. 

There was a steel trap set, and all 

Alone its secrets I would learn ; 
There was a great rat caught that day 

Which squealed at every turn. 

At Aunt 'Eiah's one day hogs were killed ; 

t watched beside the boiling pots ; 
They all were scalded ; so was I, 

At least in several spots. 

But then at Aunt 'Eiah's I had fun. 

The cribs were cleaned, the rats were killed ; 
With club in hand I struck one down 

And stood with triumph filled. 

I knew where harvest apples grew — 
The large, the rmellow, and the red; 

By hatfuls I would gather them, 
And ever lived well fed. 



128 FRAGMENTS OF SONG. 

It seems not very long ago 

When to Aunt 'Eiah's house I went ; 

I ran away more times I know 
Than I was ever sent. 

Perhaps ^twas wrong,, as grown-ups say — 
It doubtless caused dear mother pain; 

But were all things they used to be, 
I might slip off again. 

But ah ! my lads, Aunt 'Eiah's gone, 
Good mother too in heaven now lives, 

And gray is gathering on this head 
While time its blessing gives. 

You asked me for a story true. 

So I have given what you require ; 

And while my love to you I give, 
Should not I love Aunt 'Eiah? 



IAN 



6 1913 



